Plastic container and closure

Abstract

A container assembly having a cylindrical container body and a substantially circular container lid is provided with inwardly extending annular reinforcing ribs on an inner surface of the container body in the region of the mouth thereof and with angularly equispaced radially extending reinforcing ribs on the container lid extending from a V-shaped annular channel at the periphery of the lid substantially to an indented circular area at the center thereof. Closure of the lid to the body is effectuated by means of a pair of longitudinally spaced annular shoulders on an inside surface of the container body and a pair of complementary annular lips on the container lid, as well as a third annular shoulder on an outside surface of the container body and a corresponding annular lip on the container lid. One of the inner shoulder surfaces on the container body is disposed in substantially the same transverse plane as the annular shoulder located on the outer surface of the container body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A plastic container comprising: a container body having a cylindrical wall with a longitudinal axis of symmetry, said cylindrical wall having at one end a circular rim defining a container mouth, said container body having a planar wall at an end of said cylindrical wall opposite said rim and said mouth, said cylindrical wall having an inner side and an outer side;   a substantially planar container lid having a circular periphery with closure means engageable with said rim in a snap-lock fit for closing said container; and   detent means for locking said lid to said container body upon the engagement of said closure means with said rim during a closing operation, said detent means including:   (a) at least one first shoulder surface on said outer side of said cylindrical wall in a region about said rim and a first lip on said lid conformingly engaging said first shoulder surface in a closed state of said container;   (b) at least one second shoulder surface disposed on said inner side of said cylindrical wall in a region about said rim and a second lip on said lid conformingly engaging said second shoulder surface in a closed state of said container, said second shoulder surface facing inwardly into said body substantially towards the closed end thereof; and   (c) at least one third shoulder surface disposed on said inner side of said cylindrical wall between said rim and said second shoulder surface and a third lip on said lid conformingly engaging said third shoulder surface in a closed state of said container, said third shoulder surface facing inwardly into said body substantially towards the closed end thereof.   
     
     
       2. The plastic container defined in claim 1 wherein said first shoulder surface is one annular surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said axis of symmetry, and wherein said third shoulder surface is another annular surface having approximately the same longitudinal position along said cylindrical wall as said one annular surface. 
     
     
       3. The plastic container body defined in claim 2 where said other annular surface is oriented substantially perpendicularly to said axis of symmetry and lies in the substantially same transverse plane as said one annular surface. 
     
     
       4. The plastic container defined in claim 3 wherein said container wall is provided with a rim bead having a substantially rectangular cross section, said rim bead having sides defined in part by said one annular surface and said other annular surface. 
     
     
       5. The plastic container defined in claim 4 wherein said lid is formed at said periphery with an annular groove having a cross-sectionally rectangular portion of substantially the same dimensions as said bead, said rectangular portion of said groove conformingly engaging said bead in a closed state of said container. 
     
     
       6. The plastic container defined in claim 5 wherein said cylindrical wall is formed at said mouth with a cross-sectionally L-shaped annular portion including an inwardly and transversely extending annular flange and, at an inner end of said annular flange, a longitudinal cylindrical flange extending away from said planar wall and terminating with said bead, said second annular surface being defined in part by an inner circular edge of said L-shaped annular portion and being disposed on a side of said annular flange opposite said cylindrical flange. 
     
     
       7. The plastic container defined in claim 6 wherein said cylindrical wall is provided on said inner side with at least one inwardly extending annular reinforcing rib in a region about said L-shaped annular portion. 
     
     
       8. The plastic container defined in claim 7 wherein said cylindrical wall is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced inwardly extending annular reinforcing ribs in a region about said L-shaped annular portion, said ribs forming with said annular flange a plurality of annular troughs at said mouth. 
     
     
       9. The plastic container defined in claim 6 wherein said lid is formed at said periphery with a cross-sectionally V-shaped annular portion having an oblique annular outer flange defining in part said annular groove and bearing at an end opposite said groove an outwardly extending ridge forming said second lip, said outer flange conformingly engaging said cylindrical flange in a closed state of said container. 
     
     
       10. The plastic container defined in claim 9 wherein said V-shaped annular portion includes an oblique annular inner flange, said lid being provided, on a side facing into said body in a closed state of said container, with a plurality angularly equispaced reinforcing ribs having first edges connected to said inner flange and second edges joined to said lid on the side thereof facing into said body in a closed state of the container. 
     
     
       11. The plastic container defined in claim 10 wherein said lid has a substantially flat body portion disposed in a first plane oriented perpendicularly to said axis of symmetry in a closed state of said container, said lid being provided at its center with a circular area contiguous with said major body portion and laterally shifted with respect thereto, said circular area being disposed in a second plane parallel to and spaced from said first plane and on the same side of said major body portion as said reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
       12. The plastic container defined in claim 11 wherein said reinforcing ribs are triangular and extend radially from said V-shaped annular portion inwardly substantially to said circular area. 
     
     
       13. The plastic container defined in claim 11 wherein said lid includes an annular wall section connecting said major body portion to said circular area, said reinforcing ribs each having a third edge connected to said annular wall section. 
     
     
       14. A plastic container lid comprising: a substantiallly flat annular body portion disposed in a first plane;   a substantially flat centrally located circular portion contiguous with said annular body portion and disposed in a second plane parallel to and spaced from said first plane;   closure means at an outer edge of said annular body portion for cooperating with the rim of a cylindrical receptacle to lock the lid to the receptacle and to provide a fluid tight seal, said closure means including a substantially V-shaped annular channel portion having an oblique annular outer flange and an oblique annular inner flange connected thereto, said channel portion being disposed on the same side of said first plane as said circular portion; and   a plurality of angularly equispaced reinforcing ribs having first edges connected to said inner flange and second edges connected to said annular body portion, said ribs extending radially inwardly substantially to said circular portion.   
     
     
       15. The plastic container lid defined in claim 14 further comprising an annular wall section connecting said annular body portion to said circular portion, said reinforcing ribs each having a third edge connected to said annular wall section. 
     
     
       16. The plastic container lid defined in claim 14 wherein said reinforcing ribs are triangular. 
     
     
       17. The plastic container lid defined in claim 14 wherein said first edges of said ribs have a common length substantially equal to the width of said inner flange. 
     
     
       18. A plastic container body comprising: a cylindrical wall having a rim at one end defining a circular container mouth, said cylindrical wall having an inner side and an outer side;   a planar wall contiguous with said cylindrical wall at an end thereof opposite said rim;   closure means at said rim for cooperating with a securing element on a container lid to lock the lid to the container body in a fluid-tight sealing engagement; and   at least one inwardly extending annular reinforcing rib disposed on said inner side of said cylindrical wall proximately to said rim.   
     
     
       19. The plastic container body defined in claim 18 wherein said cylindrical wall is formed at said mouth with an annular cross-sectionally L-shaped portion including an inwardly and transversely extending annular flange and, at an inner end of said annular flange, a longitudinal cylindrical flange extending in a direction away from said planar wall, said reinforcing rib being disposed on a side of said annular flange opposite said cylindrical flange and spaced from said annular flange to form an annular trough. 
     
     
       20. The plastic container body defined in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of laterally spaced inwardly extending reinforcing ribs.